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Recently I checked in with John Carson, a 30-year-old Long Island triathlete, who two years ago was hit by a sports utility vehicle during a bicycle training ride. The accident left him a quadriplegic.

I am home and settled back in New York. The feedback from the article you wrote was tremendous. Prior to the race several people came up to me and asked if I was that guy. What an honor.

The race went better than I ever could have expected. I dropped a little over 2 hours from my previous triathlon in Lake Placid, and I finished in 12:54. I did the swim in 1 hour and 14 minutes. The bike took 6 hours flat, and I managed to pull together a 5 hour and 18 minute run. I never in my wildest dreams would have ever thought I could improve by so much, but my coach, Brian Shea, of Personal Best Nutrition, did an amazing job of getting me in shape.

I honestly think I am in better shape now than before the accident, and I am certainly a smarter athlete. I knew going in that I was fit enough. I just didn’t know if I could mentally and physically keep my form for that long, at that pace. My friend New York City firefighter Matt Long, author of the book, “The Long Run,” has a saying that I repeat daily: “I am not a challenged athlete! I am an athlete with challenges.”

I really enjoyed the race and took in as much of it as I could. I made sure to find my wife before the finish line to thank her for all her love and unwavering support from the moment I was injured. With that I raised my hands to the sky and crossed the finish for the last time.

With time to reflect about the race and my journey, I honestly can say that I wouldn’t change a thing. As hard as it can be for me at times, with what I lost in the accident, I think about what I have gained. I also think about how my struggles now pale in comparison to those of some one confined to a wheelchair.

Going forward I look forward to spending more time with my good friend Kevin McDermott, who is continuing to defy the odds after his spinal cord injury and is even walking with a walker on his own. My work with the Christopher Reeve Foundation has just begun, and I look forward to playing a support role and advocating and raising awareness whenever possible.

The Oprah shout-out was quite a surprise to me. To be able to reach a fan base as large and diverse as hers is amazing. Any time you can generate a buzz and get the Christopher and Dan Reeve Foundation back in the public eye, you jump at it. I am truly humbled by all the support.